April Hits & Misses (a recap)

Wow! April flew by in a prolific flash. Between the #AtoZ Challenge and various #NaPoWriMo activities there was no shortage of inspirational prompts and the writing/blogging community was alive. I’ve loved the energy — perhaps too much as I posted over 75 posts this month and broke all my records for readership/likes/comments. Thanks to everyone that had the endurance to keep up with me!

Here is a recap of the top three posts and the worst performer (based on number of views) for April:

No. 1: Turtle Soup: A Flashback

The Stats: 75 views (top post on my blog so far)

The Gist: This was a flashback (re-post) from my old blog and recounts my shared experience with Turtle Soup together with my Shanghainese father-in-law. It’s a wonderful recount of a cross-cultural exchange (if I may say so myself).

The Take-away: I shared the link of this post with my network here in China which is why it blew up, but I do think people genuinely enjoy reading about true life experiences, especially if they are heartwarming and joyful. There were three other flash-back posts this month that are worth a visit if you missed them: 25-Years Ago Today Part I, 25-Years Ago Today Part II, and Boys Gone Wild.

No. 2: Seriously Silly Poetry (#AtoZ)

The Stats: 56 views for top post (~500 views for entire series)

The Gist: An A to Z series of seriously silly poetry as part of the #AtoZChallenge. Each silly and/or sweet poem is illustrated.

The Take-away: This #AtoZ series was certainly the highlight of the month by bringing in the most new readers to my blog. And my theme of Seriously Silly Poetry was seriously fun to do. It took a lot of work but it was worth it and the series has now been compiled into a book: “Apples Eating Zebras and other seriously silly poetry” (available now in both paperback and e-book versions).

No. 3: The Golden Shovel April

The Stats: 52 views for top post

The Gist: This was a reboot of my Golden Shovel collaboration project including three unique golden shovel prompts and submissions from multiple members of the writing community.

The Take-Away: I love when the writing community get together and flexes our creative muscles together. The diversity of each persons approach to the prompt is always compelling. Thanks again to the community members that joined. If you want to give it a try, it’s never too late.

The Flop: none

While I did have some lower performing posts I don’t consider any of the posts this month a flop. Some just got lost in the flurry.

Here are a few little gems that you might have missed:

2020 NaPoWriMo Prompt #03: Zoe

This Glosa poem pulls from Claude McKay’s “Tropics in New York” and is one three different forms that I’ve explored this piece. It’s more of a poetic story then traditional poem and its worth checking out. This is one of a bunch of posts I made in response to NaPoWriMo – 30 Poems in 30 Days prompts (which I’m still working through as I encountered these prompts halfway through the month).

Paint Chip Poetry: Earth Mama

The paint chip poetry series is a wonderful little collaboration project hosted by No Love for Fatties and is always worth a look and try. Earth Mama is one of the weekly posts in this series.

Flex Poetry Challenge: Love Envisioned (Ottava Rima)

Of all the poetry month prompts this month, I fell in love most with this series of prompts hosted by the lovely poet behind A Different Perspective. Each prompt inspired me to learn a new poetic form. Love Envisioned is one of the 11 posts in this series.

Be well,

Monty

• Gem (Sunday Scribblings)
  Peckapalooza over at The Confusing Middle runs a weekly prompt called Sunday Scribblings. Check out his post and join in the creativity! Sunday Scribblings #107Continue reading “Gem (Sunday Scribblings)”
• City of Wood (a Paint Chip Poem)
  No Love For Fatties invites us to join in on her Paint Chip Poetry by creating our own poem inspired by the paint chip colorsContinue reading “City of Wood (a Paint Chip Poem)”
• A Miracle
  Another good reminder for myself. Originally published in Thirteen Words. Be well, Monty
• Joyful Jack
  Yesterday, upon returning home. Jack was super happy and excited to see me. Without a bath or a trim in over a month he isContinue reading “Joyful Jack”
• Day 18: Going Home
  For appropriate context, you will want to first read these posts: “Eleven Days Ago” , “Day 12”, and “Day 13”. This afternoon we will beContinue reading “Day 18: Going Home”
• Thirteen Spice
  I picked up a snack at the hospital lobby cafe. It’s a Thirteen Spice crawfish flavored pretzel stick (pic below). I’m a big fan ofContinue reading “Thirteen Spice”
• Found Poetry x Wordle
  So I have an idea that combines two of my favorite things and creates what I hope might be a new favorite thing. I loveContinue reading “Found Poetry x Wordle”
• Vanilla (Sunday Scribblings)
  Peckapalooza over at The Confusing Middle runs a weekly prompt called Sunday Scribblings. Check out his post and join in the creativity! Sunday Scribblings #106Continue reading “Vanilla (Sunday Scribblings)”
• Escape to Red (a Paint Chip Poem)
  No Love For Fatties invites us to join in on her Paint Chip Poetry by creating our own poem inspired by the paint chip colorsContinue reading “Escape to Red (a Paint Chip Poem)”
• Life is a Detour
  A good reminder to myself today. Originally published in Monty’s Very Short Shorts. Be well, Monty
• Dead Leg Piñata
  Do they make piñatas for the Day of the Dead? Or perhaps horrifying piñatas could become a thing for Halloween parties in the future (orContinue reading “Dead Leg Piñata”
• Morphine Drip
  Morphine Drip DripHis scorching bladeDripBranding signature into boneDripBlistering fleshDrip DripBursting and blackeningDrip Drip DripFlames ascending nerve by nerveDrip Drip, Drip DripAblaze she cries out toContinue reading “Morphine Drip”
• Day 13
  For appropriate context, you will want to first read these posts: “Eleven Days Ago” and “Day 12”. My wife’s surgery went smoothly. She arrived backContinue reading “Day 13”
• Day 12
  For appropriate context, you will want to first read yesterday’s post “Eleven Days Ago”. Now, onto Day 12. Last night I woke up in theContinue reading “Day 12”
• Eleven Days Ago
  Eleven days ago I was asleep in bed. It was early, but I’d had a headache and decided to retire early. I was deeply asleepContinue reading “Eleven Days Ago”
• Ars Poetica (2022 NaPoWriMo #30)
  Well it took me to mid-May but here I am at the end of the prompts from NaPoWriMo – 30 Poems in 30 Days. HopeContinue reading “Ars Poetica (2022 NaPoWriMo #30)”
• Born Blessed (2022 NaPoWriMo #29)
  May might be here but I’m still working through the NaPoWriMo – 30 Poems in 30 Days prompts since I discovered them late. Prompt 29Continue reading “Born Blessed (2022 NaPoWriMo #29)”
• Mochi (2022 NaPoWriMo #17)
  May might be here but I’m still working through the NaPoWriMo – 30 Poems in 30 Days prompts since I discovered them late. Prompt 17Continue reading “Mochi (2022 NaPoWriMo #17)”
• Sturdy Blue (2022 NaPoWriMo #16)
  May might be here but I’m still working through the NaPoWriMo – 30 Poems in 30 Days prompts since I discovered them late. Prompt 16Continue reading “Sturdy Blue (2022 NaPoWriMo #16)”
• Thai Basil (a Paint Chip Poem)
  No Love For Fatties invites us to join in on her Paint Chip Poetry by creating our own poem inspired by the paint chip colorsContinue reading “Thai Basil (a Paint Chip Poem)”
• Ed’s Special (a Paint Chip Poem)
  No Love For Fatties invites us to join in on her Paint Chip Poetry by creating our own poem inspired by the paint chip colorsContinue reading “Ed’s Special (a Paint Chip Poem)”
• Shattered (2022 NaPoWriMo #15)
  May might be here but I’m still working through the NaPoWriMo – 30 Poems in 30 Days prompts since I discovered them late. Prompt 15Continue reading “Shattered (2022 NaPoWriMo #15)”
• Monty Goes Big (2022 NaPoWriMo #14)
  May might be here but I’m still working through the NaPoWriMo – 30 Poems in 30 Days prompts since I discovered them late. Prompt 14Continue reading “Monty Goes Big (2022 NaPoWriMo #14)”
• Amazing Things (2022 NaPoWriMo #13)
  May might be here but I’m still working through the NaPoWriMo – 30 Poems in 30 Days prompts since I discovered them late. Prompt 13Continue reading “Amazing Things (2022 NaPoWriMo #13)”
• Me (2022 NaPoWriMo #12)
  May might be here but I’m still working through the NaPoWriMo – 30 Poems in 30 Days prompts since I discovered them late. Prompt 12Continue reading “Me (2022 NaPoWriMo #12)”
• Breathe (2022 NaPoWriMo #11)
  May might be here but I’m still working through the NaPoWriMo – 30 Poems in 30 Days prompts since I discovered them late. Prompt 11Continue reading “Breathe (2022 NaPoWriMo #11)”
• Unforgettable (2022 NaPoWriMo #10)
  May might be here but I’m still working through the NaPoWriMo – 30 Poems in 30 Days prompts since I discovered them late. Prompt 10Continue reading “Unforgettable (2022 NaPoWriMo #10)”
• A to Z Book Launch & Give-a-Way: Updated with Winner (#AtoZ)
  I’ve had a blast with this years #AtoZChallenge and my theme of “Seriously Silly Poetry”. And the response from all of you has been amazinglyContinue reading “A to Z Book Launch & Give-a-Way: Updated with Winner (#AtoZ)”
• Quarantine Blooms (2022 NaPoWriMo #09)
  May might be here but I’m still working through the NaPoWriMo – 30 Poems in 30 Days prompts since I discovered them late. Prompt 09Continue reading “Quarantine Blooms (2022 NaPoWriMo #09)”
• Who Am I? (2022 NaPoWriMo #08)
  May might be here but I’m still working through the NaPoWriMo – 30 Poems in 30 Days prompts since I discovered them late. Prompt 08Continue reading “Who Am I? (2022 NaPoWriMo #08)”
• Natural Causes (2022 NaPoWriMo #07)
  May might be here but I’m still working through the NaPoWriMo – 30 Poems in 30 Days prompts since I discovered them late. Prompt 07Continue reading “Natural Causes (2022 NaPoWriMo #07)”